Effectiveness of psychological and pharmacological treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a quantitative review. 1997

J S Abramowitz
Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Tennessee 38152, USA. jabramowitz@cc.memphis.edu

Quantitative review of the controlled treatment outcome literature for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) showed that exposure with response prevention was highly effective in reducing OCD symptoms. Cognitive approaches were also found to be at least as effective as exposure procedures. It appears that both cognitive and exposure interventions involve some overlapping procedures and capitalize on similar mechanisms of change. Serotonergic medication, particularly clomipramine, also substantially reduced OCD symptoms. However, clomipramine may not be particularly superior to other serotonergic medication. The relationship between side effects and effect size in medication trials was explored.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009771 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder An anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, persistent obsessions or compulsions. Obsessions are the intrusive ideas, thoughts, or images that are experienced as senseless or repugnant. Compulsions are repetitive and seemingly purposeful behavior which the individual generally recognizes as senseless and from which the individual does not derive pleasure although it may provide a release from tension. Anankastic Personality,Neurosis, Obsessive-Compulsive,Anankastic Personalities,Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive,Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive,Neuroses, Obsessive-Compulsive,Neurosis, Obsessive Compulsive,Obsessive Compulsive Disorder,Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders,Obsessive-Compulsive Neuroses,Obsessive-Compulsive Neurosis,Personalities, Anankastic,Personality, Anankastic
D002997 Clomipramine A tricyclic antidepressant similar to IMIPRAMINE that selectively inhibits the uptake of serotonin in the brain. It is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and demethylated in the liver to form its primary active metabolite, desmethylclomipramine. Chlorimipramine,Anafranil,Chlomipramine,Clomipramine Hydrochloride,Clomipramine Maleate (1:1),Clomipramine Monohydrochloride,Hydiphen,Hydrochloride, Clomipramine,Monohydrochloride, Clomipramine
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001521 Behavior Therapy The application of modern theories of learning and conditioning in the treatment of behavior disorders. Behavior Change Techniques,Behavior Modification,Behavior Treatment,Conditioning Therapy,Therapy, Behavior,Therapy, Conditioning,Behavior Change Technique,Behavior Modifications,Behavior Therapies,Conditioning Therapies,Modification, Behavior,Technique, Behavior Change,Treatment, Behavior
D015928 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy A directive form of psychotherapy based on the interpretation of situations (cognitive structure of experiences) that determine how an individual feels and behaves. It is based on the premise that cognition, the process of acquiring knowledge and forming beliefs, is a primary determinant of mood and behavior. The therapy uses behavioral and verbal techniques to identify and correct negative thinking that is at the root of the aberrant behavior. Behavior Therapy, Cognitive,Cognitive Behaviour Therapy,Cognitive Therapy,Psychotherapy, Cognitive,Cognition Therapy,Cognitive Behavior Therapy,Cognitive Psychotherapy,Therapy, Cognition,Therapy, Cognitive,Therapy, Cognitive Behavior,Behavior Therapies, Cognitive,Behavioral Therapies, Cognitive,Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive,Behaviour Therapies, Cognitive,Behaviour Therapy, Cognitive,Cognition Therapies,Cognitive Behavior Therapies,Cognitive Behavioral Therapies,Cognitive Behaviour Therapies,Cognitive Psychotherapies,Cognitive Therapies,Psychotherapies, Cognitive,Therapies, Cognition,Therapies, Cognitive,Therapies, Cognitive Behavior,Therapies, Cognitive Behavioral,Therapies, Cognitive Behaviour,Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral,Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes
D017367 Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Compounds that specifically inhibit the reuptake of serotonin in the brain. 5-HT Uptake Inhibitor,5-HT Uptake Inhibitors,5-Hydroxytryptamine Uptake Inhibitor,5-Hydroxytryptamine Uptake Inhibitors,SSRIs,Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor,Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor,Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors,Serotonin Uptake Inhibitor,Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors,Inhibitors, 5-HT Uptake,Inhibitors, 5-Hydroxytryptamine Uptake,Inhibitors, Serotonin Reuptake,Inhibitors, Serotonin Uptake,Reuptake Inhibitors, Serotonin,Uptake Inhibitors, 5-HT,Uptake Inhibitors, 5-Hydroxytryptamine,Uptake Inhibitors, Serotonin,Inhibitor, 5-HT Uptake,Inhibitor, 5-Hydroxytryptamine Uptake,Inhibitor, Serotonin Reuptake,Inhibitor, Serotonin Uptake,Reuptake Inhibitor, Serotonin,Uptake Inhibitor, 5-HT,Uptake Inhibitor, 5-Hydroxytryptamine,Uptake Inhibitor, Serotonin
D018849 Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic Works about clinical trials involving one or more test treatments, at least one control treatment, specified outcome measures for evaluating the studied intervention, and a bias-free method for assigning patients to the test treatment. The treatment may be drugs, devices, or procedures studied for diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic effectiveness. Control measures include placebos, active medicines, no-treatment, dosage forms and regimens, historical comparisons, etc. When randomization using mathematical techniques, such as the use of a random numbers table, is employed to assign patients to test or control treatments, the trials are characterized as RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS AS TOPIC. Clinical Trials, Controlled as Topic

Related Publications

J S Abramowitz
June 2003, Expert opinion on investigational drugs,
J S Abramowitz
January 1998, Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic,
J S Abramowitz
August 2003, Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.),
J S Abramowitz
January 2011, Seishin shinkeigaku zasshi = Psychiatria et neurologia Japonica,
J S Abramowitz
January 2002, Harvard review of psychiatry,
J S Abramowitz
April 2007, The Cochrane database of systematic reviews,
J S Abramowitz
November 1988, The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science,
J S Abramowitz
January 2021, Frontiers in psychiatry,
Copied contents to your clipboard!